HEARTRENDING STORY BY A REFUGEE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17142, 11 September 1923, Page 1

HEARTRENDING STORY BY A REFUGEE.

TERRIBLE PLIGHT OF THE TRAPPED POPULATION. By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.—Reuter’s Telegrams. (Received September 11, 9.30 &.m.) SHANGHAI, September 10. Mr Louis Jederkin, a Yokohama jewellery agent, tells of his experiences in the earthquake. He was closing his shop in the centre of the foreign settlement when the> shock came, and he and a number of other foreigners were thrown to the ground. When they rose, they saw that the houses had been levelled. They walked with thousands of others over the collapsed roofs seeking their relatives. They saw hundreds of persons pinned under the debris. Those still alive were screaming with agony. Arms and legs were protruding from) the debris. Many worked hard in attempts to release the families who were imprisoned) in the ruins. As the fire spread thousands rushed into the sea to escape the awful heat. Amongst them he noticed Mr Edwards, who was in the employ !o£ the Hong Kong-Shangh&l Bank. His hand had been cut off, and the stump was bleeding profusely. Many foreigners were frantically searching for their wives, who had been out shopping. 'f He noticed a prominent merchant, Mr George Koraor, who was standing near the wreck of his house, waist deep in debris. He was shouting that he would give ten thousand yen to anyone who got out his wife, and was pointing towards the woman’s head, which was sticking cut from the pile of debris. - The fire was then sweeping forward, and before any help could be given it caught the ruins of the house, and the woman was consumed in a living grave before the eyes of her husband. V After a vain search for his own wife, Mr Jederkin made his way to the sea front and got aboard the steamer Empress of Australia. He had given up all hope of his wife when he was joyously surprised) to see her come aboard with a boatload' of refugees. She was shopping when the premises collapsed, but she escaped injury, and took refuge in the park till she was able to make her way to the sea front.